Winter weather?

As we began our journey this morning we were listening to the radio talking about freezing rain. Obviously this is not a good thing. So when we saw a tourist info rest stop we decided to stop and wait out the "storm". Luckily for us they had free wifi so we could check the road conditions or we could simply listen to the lovely Texas woman with her sweet Texas accent telling people as they came in or called on the phone. Soon the road was clear, the traffic accident had been cleaned up and we were on our way.

By mid afternoon we arrived in downtown Austin. We found a parking spot at the YMCA and a local man, who had spotted our RV at the stop sign and just had to check out this 'cool' vehicle, was able to give us some directions to the biking paths. The weather was not what I had hoped for, it was only about +6 but with gloves and warm clothes we were able to bike the paths and enjoy the scenery. We checked out the Barton Springs swimming pool that is normally open year round but it was currently under repairs. It was huge! We found a restaurant close by, Paggi House, which was a very nice place with top of the line food. Excellent food and superb service. I enjoyed a sea bass with persimmons and bok choy and Tim had the sole. We both decided that mine was the best tasting, and no dairy. Ya!

Back on the road. Assuming that once we left Austin we would see open areas but no such luck. Actually from Fort Worth to Austin and right through San Antonio there is constantly 'city' everywhere. We are hoping to see something other than shops and car dealerships tomorrow.

Thank you Lord for safe travels.

Driving along

Very little snow and beautiful rolling hills are the joys we were ale to experience this morning on our drive. Enjoyed a lovely walk in a nice little park in Cordova Kansas which was next to a 100 year old convent before we partook in our sandwiches and homemade bean salad.

Another long day of driving watching the scenery roll by. No snow to be seen anymore but no green yet either. Stopped on the south side of Oklahoma for supper at Louie's. Fries were really good, thin and crispy and the blackened chicken with black bean salsa was tasty. (This is for our son Jordan who loves to create food).

Decided to stop a little earlier as we felt we were missing the now darkened scenery. Spent the night at a FlyingJ in Ardmore.

Thank you Lord for another safe day of travels.

Beautiful carved wall

Another Adventure

Well, another adventure has begun. This year we are headed out to Birmingham Alabama to volunteer with MDS (Mennonite Disaster Service). We had planned to leave home on January 12 but due to a winter storm we did not leave until Sunday. After goodbyes to our children at home we headed out on the highway.

The roads were fine and they got better the further south we went. Border crossing took longer than would have otherwise due to going as volunteers but it was no problem. Observed a beautiful sunset in South Dakota. Stopped at Guadalajara, a Mexican restaurant in Watertown. Thanks to Jordan, driving in the dark was no longer boring, thanks to my iPad and the writings of Tom Clancy.

Spent the night warm and toasty under the covers in a McDonalds parking lot in Norfolk Nebraska.

Thank you Lord for your provisions, thank you for safety in our travels.

Packing

Only a few days left before we head out on another adventure. We are making sure that everything is looked after, taken care of and ready for us to leave.

We had a wonderful Christmas with family and some good visits with friends. We will miss our children at home but know that they will be well looked after.

I will be blogging along the way and thanks to the Pages App will try to make it look more "professional".

So please keep your eyes pealed for what is to come. Please keep us in your hearts and prayers as we travel many, many miles along the highways and byways.

Blond Macaroon Cookies

Test

I am testing my new documents app to see how well it will work for creating my blog on the road.  Here is another font to try. Or Georgia. Now to see if it will copy and paste.

A Teenager

This fall, God led a wonderful young lady into our home. She was in need of a loving Christian family to nourish her soul and we obeyed God's calling to be that family to her.

This young lady spends the weekends with us, attending Youth at church and Sunday School and Worship Service on Sunday morning. We have been blessed with her presence in our lives and pray that we can be God in the flesh to her on this earth.

Thank you Lord for leading us to her, may we both continue to be a blessing to each other.

Anxiety

Anxiety. Do I suffer from it? Yes. All the time - not really. Occasionally - ya. How do I deal with it? 

Well there are a few ways. One is a natural product called L-Theanine. It works and it works well. The more anxiety I have the more I take. Normally I only take one capsule (100mg) per night but when things are causing me to have anxious thoughts I take more.

Music is another way. Songs like Que Sera Sera by Doris Day

"Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be."

A Christian chorus "I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart, I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.

Another Christian chorus "the joy of the Lord is my strength (4x)"

From the musical Annie "the sun will come out tomorrow...."

A Christian chorus: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone), Jesus is the Answer. Actually the list of chorus' could go on and on as music does touch my soul.

God. God is the way! God is my strength. Without God I would not be where I am today.

I truly believe that anxiety is a medical condition and not everyone suffers from it. Some people will feel anxious at times but not something that lasts for a long period. People with true anxiety often have thoughts in their head that they cannot explain, they have no idea why they would even think things like that. I have had those kinds of thoughts. Thoughts of "maybe I should just stop my car on the tracks" but as soon as these kinds of thoughts came into my mind I knew they were "crazy" or "wrong" and that I would (hopefully not) ever consider them. But why? Why did they even come into my head? These things I cannot explain but I do know that with God's help, with the help of L-Theanine (a natural "drug") I do not have those kinds of thoughts.

Do I have any anxiety these days? Sometimes. We are in the beginning of a kitchen reno so that might cause some. People have caused some. But through it all I am trusting that God will see me through one day at a time. 

(another old chorus just came to mind) 

I'm only human; I'm just a man

Help me believe in what I could be and all that I am
Show me the stairway
I have to climb
Lord for my sake
Teach me to take
One day at a time

One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you
Give me the strength to do everything that I have to do
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Help me today
Show me the way
One day at a time.

Could you remember
When you walked among men
Jesus, you know when you're looking below
It's worse now than then
Pushin' and shovin' crowd in your mind
Lord for my sake
Teach me to take
One day at a time

Have I cured my anxiety? No. Is is much better? Yes. Will I continue to suffer from it? Probably. Have I learned how to ease it? Yes.

I pray that these songs, my words, God's words, medical help (not only natural "drugs" but good counselling) would help anyone who might come across this page.